Autism

A benefit concert in Pensacola Sunday will help the mother of an autistic child complete training in an intensive, home-based therapy program. While, the Son-RiseProgram isn’t widely acclaimed in the Autism community, Mary Sanford believes in its effectiveness and plans to share what she’s learning with other parents of autistic children.

Sanford, who is an elementary school music teacher in Escambia County, organized the benefit. She’s calling it “Ari’s Big Fundraiser.” Ari is her four year old son, who was diagnosed with autism when he was 20 months old.